BIG FIRE RISK IN WELLINGTON

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 134, 27 August 1927, Page 12

BIG FIRE RISK IN WELLINGTON

FACTS AND FIGURES (Special to THE SUN.) WELLINGTON, Friday. “The fire risk in the city of Wellington is more hazardous than in any other city of its size in the British Empire,” said Superintendent Creek, of the Wellington Fire Brigade, in his report to the first annual meeting to the Welling Fire Board. “This is brougrht about by the enormous number ot old wooden buildings in the city and the extensive use of scrim and paper for the interior lining of the walls,” said the superintendent. "These risks are increased by the topographical and geographical nature of the city and suburbs,” For the year ended June 30, 1927, the number of calls attended was 633, an increase of 280 on the previous year. The actual fires were 470. an increase of 196. False alarms numbered 163, an increase of 86, of which 42 were malicious. The estimated loss of property by fire was £109,556. In one fire the damage exceeded £IO,OOO, five exceeded £5.000, and twenty-five exceeded £I,OOO. Sixteen fires were due to benzine in close proximity to a light, 25 to the burning off of gorse, 10 to defective chimney hearths, 6 to foul chimneys, 245 to lighted matches thrown down, 18 from sparks, and 37 unknown. In the year 1917-18 the number of fires was 147; in 1922-23 it was 246, in 1925-26 it was 273, and in 1926-27 470,